How to complain to your energy supplier

Hopefully, you'll never have to make a complaint about your energy supplier - but if you do have a problem, it's worth knowing where to direct it.

Energy complaints can range from disputes over bills, contractual obligations and meter readings to having to wait on hold to speak to advisors or being treated poorly by staff.

If you need to know how to make a complaint to your energy supplier, this guide contains everything you need to know to guide you through the process and get your complaint resolved.

Making the complaint

In the first instance, you should always take your complaint directly to your energy supplier. You'll find the relevant contact details on your recent bills.

If you're going to make your complaint over the phone, make sure you have your account details to hand. Your bills will have some sort of customer reference number on them which you should quote to help the supplier call up your details quickly.

You should also have to hand any supporting information relevant to your complaint. Copies of your contract, including start dates and tariffs will be useful. It may also be worthwhile making a note of the reading on your meter if you have one.

Once you have spoken to the customer service agent and explained the problem, make a record of the time and date of the call and also the name of the person you spoke to. Make notes of any important details during the call and be sure to ask questions if you don't understand something.

Let the supplier know you will follow up the call by making the complaint in writing. When you type up your complaint, make sure you state clearly that it is complaint and make a copy for your own records, just in case it is disputed at a later date.

Sending your letter of complaint by recorded delivery will allow you to track the letter and prove it was sent, using the receipt.

If, after your call, letters and follow-up conversations, you are still not satisfied with how your complaint is handled, your complaint should be escalated through the company in accordance to its complaints handling procedure.

What if the complaint is still unresolved?

Energy suppliers are generally fairly good at dealing with complaints, but if the supplier has not satisfactorily handled your complaint after eight weeks, you should take it to the energy ombudsman who will take it up on your behalf.

The ombudsman service is free to use and independent of gas and electricity suppliers and the regulator Ofgem. You can find the ombudsman service online at www.ombudsman-services.org or you can contact the service by phone on 0845 055 0760.

Can anyone else help?

If you need some general advice on how to make a complaint, Consumer Direct will be able to help. Consumer Direct is a Government-funded service which can help with specific information about how to complain to your energy supplier, and has resources such as letter templates and other tools.

You can find Consumer Direct online here or you can contact the service by phone on 08454 04 05 06.

Switch and save

If your complaint is simply that your supplier is too expensive, you can save money by switching suppliers or tariffs through MoneySupermarket.com.

Our comparison service will search the market and calculate whether you're currently paying over the odds for your energy and if you'd be better off by switching from your current electricity or gas suppliers to the cheapest providers.

To see if you could save money by switching, compare cheap gas and electricity quotes on our energy channel.